# Ok Martians, please stop shooting down our spacecrafts **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 27, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306 "2003-12-27T21:05:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/1 "2003-12-27T21:05:11Z")
Pretty please, we are not all that bad, and would really like to meet you one day. These crafts are not weapons or ment to hurt anyone, if a probe fell on one of your houses, it wasn’t intentional. We are trying to find out what is there so we can land safely for us AND you. So what do ys say? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/2 "2003-12-27T21:10:37Z")
Oh, they’re not weapons now, but they would be… ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/3 "2003-12-27T21:16:56Z")
Reminds me of _When Mars Attacks_ when the aliens are saying “We are your friends”, while shooting everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/4 "2003-12-27T23:53:44Z")
The problem is obvious: Mars doesn’t want to be probed, MARS NEEDS WOMEN! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/5 "2003-12-28T01:50:06Z")
Actually, **Podkayne** found the little bugger and took it home for her baby brother to play with. It could have been worse. **Tars Tarkas** wanted to use it for radium rifle target practice. As usual, the female prevailed, so a toy it is. If you _must_ shoot stuff at us, please send something a little more useful. We could use a case of Beluga caviar or maybe some chocolate chip cookies. We really wish nothing from you except to be left alone. And, of course, continued access to the SDMB. Peace. JCoM ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/6 "2003-12-28T03:42:27Z")
Geez not again !!! Now Britain can garner the dubious honor of being a nation that has lost a spacecraft to Mars. (America and the former USSR both lost several). As I heard someone once say “Mars is the Bermuda Triangle of the Solar System”. ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/7 "2003-12-28T03:44:47Z")
The Beagle isn’t lost, just no one has found it yet… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/8 "2003-12-28T04:04:44Z")
Michael Valentine Smith took it to the old ones for questioning. So far, no grok. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/9 "2003-12-28T04:07:22Z")
Didn’t we send Bugs Bunny there once? Maybe theyre pissed? ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/10 "2003-12-28T04:35:48Z")
I say we nuke the site from orbit… It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/11 "2003-12-28T04:39:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*Didn’t we send Bugs Bunny there once? > Maybe theyre pissed? \*\* Well, he did take their Illumium PU36 explosive space modulator. ---
**Author:** ![xayoz306](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bc8723/32.png) [@xayoz306](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xayoz306)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2003, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/12 "2003-12-28T04:41:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*Well, he did take their Illumium PU36 explosive space modulator. \*\* Surel;y Marvin is over that by now. (Isn’t he) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/13 "2004-01-05T23:52:19Z")
thanks ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/14 "2004-01-06T00:11:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xayoz306 \* > \*\*The Beagle isn’t lost, just no one has found it yet… > > :smack: \*\* For some reason, I imagined you as saying that as Michael Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/15 "2004-01-06T03:17:21Z")
> [@](#): > > For some reason, I imagined you as saying that as Michael Palin. Maybe they can make a “Dead Lander” skit: “Look, it’s been weeks now. If the thing hasn’t sent a signal, it’s because it was probably smashed to bits upon impact.” “No no, it’s just resting. It’s a long journey to Mars. The lander’s not gonna feel up to calling home the moment it arrives.” ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/16 "2004-01-06T03:39:45Z")
its pining for the fjords? ---
**Author:** ![blasphmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@blasphmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blasphmer)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/17 "2004-01-06T04:10:27Z")
It’s too bad John Titor went home already. We coulda asked him when we would sucessfully probe Mars. Oh wait, there’s someone in my living room. Ello 2004 people. This is Torgo Manus. I travel from 2012. We are very excited for we found second colony of human on mars in 2008. They destroy all previous satellites to avoid detection. They shall provide us with plans for 2020 style death ray for the big war. Political upheval shall occur. Repent now, the future is full of demons. ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/18 "2004-01-06T06:30:52Z")
It sounds like [AMEE](http://www.colinmackenzie.net/robots/amee/standing.jpg) (_Red Planet_) is still on the prowl. Get your filthy omnidirectional pincer-claws off me, you damn, dirty robot. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/19 "2004-01-06T15:54:47Z")
[Bin Laden might have something to do with it…](http://http://www.parool.nl/artikelen/COL/1072504513463.html) ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306/20 "2004-01-06T18:49:16Z")
What possessed anyone to call the thing “the Beagle”\*, anyway? Anybody who’s ever tried to call a beagle once they’ve let it loose knows what happens. Said four legged chasing machine takes off down the road, never to be seen again, at least until it’s spent at least 12 hours rolling in dead things…they should have called the thing “Border Collie” or maybe “Labrador Retriever”… \*Tiresome disclaimer: Yes, yes, I know where the name really came from. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-martians-please-stop-shooting-down-our-spacecrafts/221306.md?page=2)